Smith would also fit nicely in the Lakers' starting five as a more athletic option alongside Dwight Howard. The problem is Gasol's high salary would eat up Atlanta's cap space, and adding a 32-year-old player on the decline doesn't fit with the Hawks' timetable. So the only way Atlanta and L.A. could make a deal is with a third partner. The Timberwolves make the most sense, though they probably would not be willing to get older in the middle and add salary during what looks like a lost season due to injuries. Minnesota probably says no to a deal Ferry might make.

What are some examples of great players getting traded for just expirings? Pau was traded for expirings, draft picks, and the rights to Marc Gasol. Pau's expiring by itself isn't going to attract anything that the Lakers would want to sacrifice their 2014 cap space for.

It's not just to save this season. I don't think his value is going to get any better.

Well really the best option would be to just keep pau until 2014 then go in with massive cap space. Though we will have to go through a whole other season just like this. Maybe a little better and maybe make the playoffs but most likely a 1st round exit. I have a feeling though trading pau in the offseason would increase our chances of resigning dwight. I doubt dwight really has much love for the guy.

Well really the best option would be to just keep pau until 2014 then go in with massive cap space. Though we will have to go through a whole other season just like this. Maybe a little better and maybe make the playoffs but most likely a 1st round exit. I have a feeling though trading pau in the offseason would increase our chances of resigning dwight. I doubt dwight really has much love for the guy.

It might as well be now IMO since I don't think it'll do much for his value. That plus his situation is toxic, and it needed to be broken before the trading deadline last season.

I still think these some of these problems would've been solvable had the Lakers just been honest with themselves earlier about how this team really was. Pau would've had more value to help out this team.

I had a feeling the Lakers were in real trouble when I heard Mitch insisted on waiting for Nash to return to evaluate the team. I think that was the exact point where I thought missing the playoffs was a very real possibility.

Yeah, they took a gamble indeed with that waiting till Nash came back to see if Pau could regain his old self from the last Finals against Boston instead of being proactive and doing something then & there to save the season and now we're paying the price.

What Woj said about the Lakers is only partially true. Yes they are not willing to accept LONG term money back for Pau, but that is because they are entirely focused on 2014 cap space at this point. They must feel good about making a run at Lebron/Carmelo. The Lakers have made it clear that they are willing to pay and are looking for huge splash in FA in 2014. So again, Woj tweets were partially correct.

Thing is, Smith's contract ends next year. So they'd get him on a one year deal most likely. I think Rudy Gay's too but idk. But people the Lakers are looking at don't exactly have contracts to 2014 that would screw with plans.

All signs seem to be pointing to Josh Smith. But something tells me it could be Rudy Gay. My dad said if the Blazers keep losing it will be Aldridge